Automobile



H. H. SCHIELER AUTOMOBILE Filed Aug. 25 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Unir. 23, w23.

H, H. scHlELER AUTOMOBILE "ige 'I h Il Filed Aug. 25

@m z3, w23.,l

H. H. scHlELER www@ AUTOMOBILE 19% 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 File'd Aug. 25

Patented et., 23, 192.

Y i "fl HARRY H. scHIELEn, or MEADOWS, 1D0.

AUTOMOBILE.

.Application med august 25, 1921. serial no. 495,227.

To all whomtmay concern:

Be it known that HARRY H. Sor-linnen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Meadows, in the county of Adams and State of idaho, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Automobiles, of which the following is a speciication.

The resent invention relates to improvements in automobiles, particularly of that type or class in which the front or steering wheels are also adapted to act as driving or propelling wheels.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide means whereby t'he parts of the driving mechanism may be compactly ar"- ranged and in such manner that the weight thereof is disposed relatively close to the front axle.

A further object is to provide a construction by which, if desired, the gearing of the driving mechanism may be readily removed bodily from the frame for the purpose of repair or replacement.

Other objects are to provide an arrange ment by which the driving mechanism may be arranged relatively close to the motor or main power shaft, and in which the front driving and steering axle will be permitted to have a relatively free longitudinal rocking motion, regardless of the position of the rear wheels or the rigidness of the vehicle frame.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

It is to beunderstood that in the drawings many of the parts areA shown more or less conventionally, and that, in some in*l stances, the proportion of parts is inexact in order to clearly disclose certain features.

ln the drawings, only a part 'of the forward portion of the main frame of the automobile is shown, asthe improvements are manifestly not limited to use with any particular style of frame or body.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in longitudinal section, of the forward portion of the main frame of an automobile, having an embodiment of the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan with the main frame and upper 4part of the iifth wheel connection removed and the gear casing in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse,A vertical section substantially on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. lt is a plan view illustrating particularly the steering devices;I

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate, in horizontal and transverse vertical section7 a change speed transmission that may be employed.

Referring to the drawings the portion of the vehicle frame that is illustrated comf prises longitudinal bars l, of channel form in cross section which are connected by suitable transverse bars. -The front road wheels 2, are each supported by a section 4 of the tubular front axle, the inner adjacent ends of which are supported by bearings 5 extending laterally from opposite sides of a gear casing that will be hereinafter more particularly described. t

In the outer face of each of the side walls of the gear casing 6 are formed two Vertical grooves, situated respectively in front and in rear of the laterally projecting axle bearing 5; and into such grooves extend the inner edges of arms 7 that are formed integral with the lower ring 8 of a fifth wheel connection between said gear casing and the main frame l.

At their lower en ds the arms 7 have laterally extending brackets 8a to which the inner ends of leaf springs 9 are connected. As shown the ends of the springs are drawn into close engagement with and firmly secured to the brackets 8 by clips 10 extending through the brackets and embracing the springs, suitable nuts being provided on the limbs of the clips above the brackets.

At their outer ends the springs 9 are connected to the outer ends of the axle sections 4, or the wheel hubs, by links 11.

The upper circle member 12 of the fifth wheel connection between the gear casing 6 and the frame 1 is rigidly secured to said frame. As shown this member is secured to cross bars 13, 14 and the side bars of the frame by bolts 12a and is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending upwardlycurved arms 15 that are connected by a cenx trally apertured hub member 16.

Any suitable, detachable, means may be provided for holding the'two circle members 8, l2 of the steering devices or fth wheel lll litiV connection between the gear casing tl and vehicle trame in`proper contact. As shown a sectional ringis bolted to the lower tace of the member 12 and extends inward beneath the member (see lligs; 2 and 3).

'lhe grooves in the outer taces oi the sides of thegear casing 6 are longitudinally curved or sli htly convex as shown by dotted lines in ig. 3 so that there may be a relative rocking movement between the'casing and-the axle sections about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle.

Within the casing 'd are arranged the main elements oi the driving mechanism for the wheels 2. 'This includes two sets of ditterential gearin :respectively supported on horizontal sha s 20, 2l that are mounted in a iframe 22 which is detachably supported within the casin 3. As shown the casing 6 is open at the ottom and the lower plate of the trame 22 is oi such size that it extends 'across the bottom edges of the' sides of the casing 6 and is secured thereto by screw bolts 23. v i

A vertical shalt 22n is mounted in bear.. ings in the top and bottom of the trame 22 and is provided with two oppositely threaded worms that respectively mesh with the worm wheels ot the two differential mechanisms on the shafts 20 and 2l. Each or said diilerentials is provided with pinions that mesh with gears on the inner ends oit driving shafts, or, live ax'le members 2li that extend through the axle sections d and have ltheir' outer ends suitably connected to the wheels 2.

'llhe vertical shaft 22l is coaxial with the axis of the itth wheel connection between the gear casing (i and main trame sovthat the axle and road wheels 2 may be turned as desired in steering the vehicle without interference with any ot the mechanism for propelling said wheelsa ln cme it is necessary or desirable to remove the driving mechanism it is only necessary to detach the hub caps at the wheels 2 and withdraw the shafts 2-, Then hyp unscrewing the bolts 23 the trame 22 and a or grooves omed in cylindrical member' 23 that is mounted lin a hearing in the huh i3 ot the xed member et the filth wheel connection previously described. Said member 23 is shown .provided with an exanded head that vnests, on suitable antirriction bearing and to which head is secured a bevel gear 23 that meshes with corresponding gear 30 on a sleeve surrounding ot the gearing supported thereby canv menace forms a continuation ol the main crank shaft ot' an engine 3l., conventionally illustrated in dotted lines in Illig. l.

While it will be clear that any suitable and preferred type of motor or engine may be employed there is conventionally illustrateda four cylinder internal combustion explosive engine and also a variable speed transmission is shown interposed between the said motor and the driving gear 30. l

As shown the gear 30 is supported at one end ot a sleeve 32 that surrounds the shalt 31 which is mounted in hearings at opposite ends of a casingsfsupported on the trame l and the stationary member of the fifth wheel connection between the trame and gear casing 6. y

0n the shaft 30, beyond the end of the sleeve 32 to which the gear 30 is secured, is mounted a gear 3d that meshes with a gear 35 on a counter shaft 36'. The counter shalt is ftprovided with three gears 37, 38, 39 or di erent diameters and gears lil), il slidable on the sleeve 32 are adapted to, respectively, be moved into and from' meshing relation to said gears 37, 38 so that the speed oi the sleeve and consequently the bevel gear 30 may be varied inthe usual manner.

'l`he gear l0 is also provided with a yclutch member adapted to engage a similar member `on the gear 3ft so that, when desired, the sleeve 32 and gear l30 thereon may he directly connected tothe shaft 3l.

The gear il is slidable on the sleeve 32 so that it may mesh directly with the gear 38 on the countershatt or, through a reverse gear d2, with the gear 39 on the counter shaft. lhis last connection provides tor driving the sleeve 32 and bevel gear 30 thereon in a reverse direction to that in which the shaft 3l turns.

lin-the embodiment ot the invention illustrated the motor is arranged in rear ot the axis ot the vertical drive shaft 2d and the transmission in front ot such axis, so that it is necessary, in order to provide the desired compact arrangement ot parts, to mount the gears 30, il and t0 on a sleeve through which the shaft 3l that is directly connected i to the motor shaft extends. lt will be evident, however, that the motor and transmission may be both arranged at the same side ot the axis oi shatt 2t in which case a `ditlerent specific arrangement ot transmislli Sil

narices d. Referring to these figures it will be seen that the lower ring member 8 is provided with an interior flange that conforms closely to the outline of the gear casing 6 so that it does notinterfere with vertical movement of said casing.

A ortion of said flange is dedected downwardl,l as at 8B, and to said depending, arc shaped tlangeissecured a radially projecting arin that extends rearwardly of the frame 1 and in which is formed a longitudinal slot 51.

The rear end of the arm 50 is bent downward and to such end is suitably connected a forked radius rod 52 the forward ends of the arms of which are connected to the hubs of the road wheels E?.

A shaft 53 mount/ed in bearings in the frame 1 extends transversely across the arm 50 and is provided with an intermediate threaded section 54 about which is fitted a nut or internally threaded sleeve 55. stud or lug 56 extends downward from the nut A55 and passes through the slot 51, and on said stud is secured a block that is free to slide in said slot. To the upper and lower laces of said block are attached plates 56a that extend laterally beyond the edges of the slot 51 and thus hold the block vertically on the arm 50. I 1

On the shaft 53 is secured a bevel pinion 57 with which meshes a similar pinion 57 at the lower end of a steering rod 58 suitF ably mounted onvthe vehicle traine. As the steering rod 58 isturned the shaft [53"will be rotated and the nut 55 moved transversely of the machine, such movement being communicated to the arm 50 and lower member 8 of the connection between the frame and front axle so that the latter and the road wheels will be turned about the axis or the vertical shatt 24. f

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letf ters Patent is:

,1. ln a motor-driven vehicle, the combination with a vehicle traine, of a divided axle carrying road wheels, a casing receiving the inner ends of the axle sections and connected with the vehicle traine to turn about a vertical axis, gearing in said .casing for driving the road wheels and including al member rotatable about said vertical axis, and springs extending from the connection between said casing and the vehicle frame to the axle sections adjacent the road wheels.

ln a motor-driven vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, ot a divided axle carrying road wheels, a casing receiving the inner ends ot the axle section and' connected with the'vehicle `trame to turn about 'a vertical axis, gearing in said casing for driving the road wheels and including a nie'rnber rotatable about said verf tical exis, and two este ot springe arranged respectively in front and in rear of the axle between the connection of said casing With the vehicle frame, and the axle sections.

3. ln a motor-driven vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a divided axle carrying road wheels, a casing receivin the inner ends of the axle sections an connected with the vehicle frame to turn about a vertical axis, gearing in said casing for driving the road wheels and-including a member rotatable about said vertical axis, the connection between the casing and vehiclel frame permitting independent lon tudinal vibration of the axle sections re ative to the trame, and springs between the connection of said casing to the vehicle frame and the axle sections,

il. ln a motor-driven vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a divided axle carrying road wheels, a casing receiving the inner ends ot the axle sections, a shaft extending from each road wheel through the connected axle section into said casing, gearing in said casing connecting said shafts and including a vertically arranged driving shaft, and means connecting said parts with the vehicle trame and permitting turning thereof about the axis of said driving shaft including a member connected to the vehicle frame and having spaced arms extending into grooves in the opposite sides of said casing, and springs connecting said arms with the axle. g

5. ln a motor-driven vehicle, the combina tion with a' vehicle iframe, of a divided axle carrying road wheels, a casing receiving the tty inner ends of the axle sections, a shaft extending'frorn .each road wheel through the connected axle section into said casing, gearing in said casing connecting said shafts and including a vertically arranged driving shaft, and means connecting said parts with the vehicle frame and permitting turning thereof about the axis of said driving shaft including a circular member suspended from the vehicle frame and provided with depending arms that extend into grooves formed in opposite walls of the gear casing, and springs having their inner ends connected to said suspended member and their outer ends attached to the axle adjacent the road wheels thereon.

d. lin a motor-driven vehicle, the combination with a vehicle trarne, cfa divided axle l carrying road wheels, a casing receiving the inner ends of the axle sections and connected to the trame by means permitting it to turn about a vertical axis, means tor driving the road wheels including a member rotatable about the said vertical axis, the connection between the frame and said' casing being provided on opposite sides ot the'casing with laterally projecting brackets, and springs having their ends connected to said brackets and to the adjacent axle sentiva Rill axle into said casing, gearing in the casing connecting said shatts and including a verticallyarranged driving shaft, and ay titth wheel connection between the casi and vehicle frame permitting, rotation ot said casing and axle about the axis of said driving A shaft and including a member depending from the frame and lengaging the casing, the Contactin surfaces between said member and casing being slightly curved inthe direction ot the height of the casing, for the purpose described. 8. ln a motor-driven vehicle, the combination of a vehicle frame, a divided front axle each section carrying a road wheel, connections between the trame and forward axle permitting the latter to turn about a. vertical axis, means for driving the road wheels on the front axle including a shalt rotatable about said vertical axis, a motor supported on the trame adjacent the forward end theres of and-connections between the motor and sald shalt including a variable s eed mechanism on the trame in advance o the motor and the vertical plane of the front axle.

9. ln a motor-driven vehicle, the combination with a vehicle trame, ot a divided axle carrying road wheels, a casing connecting the inner ends ot the axle sections, a lilith wheel connection between the casing and vehicle frame, a shaft extending trom. each road wheel through the connected axlev sec-s tion into said casing, and gearing in the casing connecting said shafts and includin a vertically arranged driving shaft, sai gearing and driving shaft being bodily removable trom the casing.

l0. ln a motor-driven vehicle, the combination' with a vehicle frame, ot a divided axle carrying road wheels, a casing connecting Athe inner ends of the axle sections and having a bottom detachablv connected withl the body thereof,- and diderential gearing supported within the casing by said removable bottom and adaptedto connect said shafts, such gearing being bodily removablel from the casing with the detachable bottom.y

1l. ln a motor-driven' vehicle, the combination with a vehicle trame, ot' a di vided axle carrying road wheels, a casing connecting the inner ends ot the axle .sec tions and having a detachable bottom, a ilth wheel connection between the trarne and casin a shalt extending from each road whee through the connected axle section invierte into said casing, and rin within the casing adapted to connect said s aits and in cluding a drivin shaft arranged coaxial with said litth w eel connection, said gearin andv driving shaft being bodily removab e from the casing when the bottom thereor is detached andthe road wheel sbatte disconnected.

l2.. lin a motor-driven vehicle, 'the combination with a vehicle trame, 'of a divided axle carrying road wheels, azcasing connecting the inner ends ot the axle sections, a lilith wheel connection between the trame and casing comprising a relatively stationaryl member on the trame, and a member sup ported by springs attached to the axle sections and engaging lthe casing, a shalt extending from each road wheel through the connected axle section into the casing, and gearing supportedwithin the casing, adapt ed to connect said shatts, and including a vertical drivin shalt, said gearing being bodily removab e from the casing with the vertical driving shalt when the road wheel shafts are disconnected from such caring.

i3, ln a motor-driven vehicle, t e combination with a vehiclelrame, of a divided axle carrying road wheels, a casing connecting theinner ends oil the axle sections and having vertical grooves in the outer `laces ot opposite side walls, a litth wheel connection between the trame and casingcomprising a relatively stationary member on the trame and a member having ribs engaging the rcoves inthe casing, leaf springs connecting the last said ymember with and supporting it from the sections oit the axle,` a shalt extending from each road wheel through the connectedv axle section into the casing, and gearing supported'within the' lll casing, 'and connecting said vroad .wheel shall ld. ln a motor-driven vehicle, the combination with a vehicle trame, ot an axle car= rying road wheels means connecting the axle with the vehicle trame and permitting it to turn about a vertical axis including a circular member mounted on the trame and provided with a radially projecting arm, having a longitudinally extending slot termed therein, rods connecting said arm with the axle adjacent each road wheel, means tor driving the road wheels including a shaft rotatable about said vertical axis, a screw mounted on the trame, a nut engaging the screw and having a stud'that extends into said slot, and means for rotating the screw.. Y

lin testimony whereof l have hereunto set m hand.

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